Nuts for Coconuts!

So, i'm kinda surprised I haven't posted this before cuz I kinda make them often & I would've thought that I had, but I checked & I haven't. Anywho, I made these this morning to take to my Aunt, but I LOVE these cookies! They turn out every time & are super easy!

Coconut Macaroons
By: Paula Deen

Ingredients
3 cups shredded coconut
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine coconut, almond extract, and salt. Mix in condensed milk to form a thick paste. Fold in egg whites with cream of tarter. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Try 'em out! You won't be disappointed! :)

Halloween Happenings!

Yes, that is going to be me on Halloween next week! I'm going to be Pikachu. Last year I was Hello Kitty, but my nephews are all in to Pokemon now so I decided to be Pika. I know Halloween is like everyone's fav holiday but to be honest I like Thanksgiving & Christmas best. Don't you think that's just a happy time of year??? I like to be around all my family too & all the yummy treats/desserts, or food in general. I also love to cook/bake during that time of year too! And if i'm lucky I can talk my mom into making her $500 Fudge. I keep telling her to rename it cuz it got that name in like what....the 60's & when ya think about it now $500 isn't really all that much money. Right?

So, we since the kids were little we've just always done certain things for the holidays, whatever holiday it may be. At Halloween we usually, not always, but usually will go to the "Garden After Dark" at Red Butte Gardens & walk around there. However, this year we aren't. It just seems like if you're not a member it's kinda pricey to pay $10/person & so this year we aren't going to make it. Plus, our Oct. kinda got a little crazy so we had to adjust accordingly. So this week, we are going to go see the witches at Gardner Village. Which, is always kinda fun. I think the kids just like to get out & about. But they seem to enjoy it. Then we'll generally make it to Frightmares sometime during the Halloween season. I also, throw them a Halloween party every year, which we had last Friday. Up until this year, we have always grown our pumpkins, picked them & carved them. But for some reason my garden was NOT going to let pumpkins grow. I planted 4 different plants & they all died. All except my Cantaloupes, which I didn't really want. But whatev's. So we picked out our pumpkins at Smith's Marketplace instead. Then brought them back & carved them. We also do Halloween bingo, bob for apples & frost cookies. So that's always fun. I just like to see their cute faces light up & get all excited.

Then we'll all meet at my bros house on Halloween & get pics & go trick or treating. And, if you go to my mom's house then you get full-size candy bars. Just FYI. :)

"Hello Lover" -Carrie Bradshaw

Ok, so maybe mine aren't exactly Manolo Blahnik's, I wish, but these are a lot like the shoes i'm wearing today. I thought of writing this blog after seeing Bigg's on Sat & she was making fun of me for always wearing heels now & how I use to wear slippers in high school. I was wearing these like 2 Friday's ago & Jer Bear came over to the office after school. He saw my shoes on the floor & so he decided to try them on & walk around in them. Then he of course twisted his ankle & was like "Nay Nay why do you wear these shoes? I almost broke my ankle!" And then I proceeded to tell him they make me look taller & thinner, which he didn't understand but said ok & walked away confused. Anywho, I DO have to wear heels everyday or to be honest I feel fat. Or at least I feel like I look fat. You know I wasn't exactly blessed with long legs. And sometimes they make my feet hurt, but you get use to it. And you get some nice muscle tone in your calves & shins. I don't know why I wrote this...just sayin'. :)

Pain Au Chocolat = My new LOVE!

Can I just say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE these things! That's one of the reasons I try to hit up the Farmer's Market on Sat. mornings! But you can't just get them anywhere. You have to get them at Vosen's. Not only do they have delicious croissants, but they also have Marzipan bars that are yummy too, & don't forget their Ciabatta. I could eat that all the time. Ya know what place I don't like tho? Is Tuille (sp?) that little French bakery. It makes me think of "I don't like how you say with your face all scrunched up 'You're French aren't you'. Ya know who else makes a good choc croissant? Which I was surprised by is Parson's in NSL. I'll even subject myself to that lady that's a total beast to get one. Anywho, I suggest trying it out. :)

You're not rockin' my sox off!

Ok, so i'm going to tell you about something that I see all the time now & it's driving me crazy! Seriously. Ladies, quit wearing no-show socks with heels or ballet flats that show!!!! Stop it! It's ugly! They're called no-show socks for a reason & for certain kinds of shoes. What's wrong with you? When you walk out of the house & you can see an inch of your sock all the way around your foot, it doesn't belong. I rarely wear shoes that require socks but when I do I wear the appropriate shape/size. If you have to wear socks then maybe you're just meant to not wear that kind of shoe. Adapt. We can't all wear the same things!

Hottie Biscotti!

I bought some Almond Biscotti last week at the B Town Farmer's Market & I LOVED it! I've always wanted to know how to make it, so i'm going to try this recipe this week. It had instructions to dip it in chocolate, which i'd normally love, cuz you know how I love chocolate, but it might be weird dipping it in coffee. You know that's the best way to eat it! Thanks Joy of Baking for the recipe!


Almond Biscotti Recipe

1 cup blanched whole almonds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure Almond Extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Toast almonds for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl lightly beat the eggs and extracts together.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer) combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until blended (about 30 seconds). Gradually add the egg mixture and beat until a dough forms, adding almonds about halfway through. On a lightly floured surface roll dough into a log about 14 inches (35 cm) long and 3 - 4 inches (8 - 10 cm) wide. Transfer log to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until firm to the touch (log will spread during baking). Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.

Transfer log to a cutting board and, using a serrated knife, cut log into slices 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick on the diagonal. Arrange evenly on baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, turn slices over, and bake another 10 minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Makes about 28 biscotti.

http://www.joyofbaking.com/biscotti/AlmondBiscotti.html

What the French???

I have a total kindergarten crush on Chef Ramsay. I watch Hell's Kitchen but I really love him on BBC's Gordon Ramsay's F Word. I'm not so much a fan of "Kitchen Nightmares" or "Master Chef" though. Watching the F Word, you see him as a completely different person than he is on HK. He's not yelling or swearing at anyone. Or throwing things around. He's funny, he cooks food that looks amazing, in his own home kitchen, & he teaches a ton of stuff about food, where it comes from & how it's made. I also love that he likes to use local fresh foods. Don't even think about opening up a can or use anything pre-made if you're going to cook with him! So, if you have BBC i'd recommend watching it. It's good stuff!

REMEMBER TO TURN OFF IPOD ON THE RIGHT BEFORE WATCHING CLIP

GORDON RAMSAY'S F WORD - INTRO